The SEC, in the action filed in Birmingham federal court, accuses Langford of accepting more than $156,000 in cash and benefits from Blount in exchange for helping Blount's firm, Blount Parrish and Co., obtain $6.7 million worth of county bond and financial business between July 2002 and August 2004. Read the filing here

The SEC also accuses Langford of obtaining help from Blount and LaPierre to secure and later pay off personal bank loans. LaPierre is accused in the civil action of receiving $219,500 from Blount to help obtain the county's financial business from Langford.

LaPierre has denied receiving payments from Blount related to Jefferson County bond business. But the SEC complaint cites three county financial deals in which Blount paid LaPierre for his help with Langford in 2003 and 2004.

The SEC lawsuit against the three describes the longstanding friendships Langford, Blount and LaPierre shared, and describes how they worked together to deliver county financial business to Blount and cash and benefits to Langford. Langford served as County Commission president starting in 2002 until last year, when he was elected Birmingham mayor.

As commission president, Langford shepherded most of the county financial deals that the SEC began investigating in 2004.

Reached by telephone today Langford said he was amazed the SEC would file a civil action against him. "They are anxious to destroy my reputation," he said. "They're doing this knowing that I passed a polygraph test that showed I did nothing wrong."